Пробный камень
VIII
Armiger?”
“Why,theHomeforFriendlessWomen—”
“Itwaswellchosen,”Dreshamcommented;andHartlyburiedhismirthinthesofa-cushions.
WhentheywerealoneGlennard,stillholdinghisuntouchedcupoftea,turnedtohiswife,whosatsilentlybehindthekettle.“Whoaskedyoutotakeaticketforthatreading?”
“Idon’tknow,really—KateDresham,Ifancy.Itwasshewhogotitup.”
“It’sjustthesortofdamnablevulgarityshe’scapableof!It’sloathsome—it’smonstrous—”
Hiswife,withoutlookingup,answeredgravely,“Ithoughtsotoo.ItwasforthatreasonIdidn’tgo.ButyoumustrememberthatveryfewpeoplefeelaboutMrs.Aubynasyoudo—”
Glennardmanagedtosetdownhiscupwithasteadyhand,buttheroomswungroundwithhimandhedroppedintothenearestchair.“AsIdo?”herepeated.
“ImeanthatveryfewpeopleknewherwhenshelivedinNewYork.Tomostofthewomenwhowenttothereadingshewasamerename,tooremotetohaveanypersonality.Withme,ofcourse,itwasdifferent—”
Glennardgaveherastartledlook.“Different?Whydifferent?”
“Sinceyouwereherfriend—”
“Herfriend!”Hestoodupimpatiently.“Youspeakasifshehadhadonlyone—themostfamouswomanofherday!”Hemovedvaguelyabouttheroom,bendingdowntolookatsomebooksonthetable.“Ihope,”headded,“youdidn’tgivethatasareason,bytheway?”
“Areason?”
“Fornotgoing.Awomanwhogivesreasonsforgettingoutofsocialobligationsissuretomakeherselfunpopularorridiculous.
